The internet has opened up a world of possibilities for starting and scaling an e-commerce business.
Whether you are looking to make a full-time income, increase your network, or earn extra money, starting an online business has become a great way to achieve your objectives.
With the wide offer of online courses promising to teach everything you need to know, it is difficult to know what is the best option.
If you have done your research, you may have come across the popular Start and Scale course by Gretta Van Riel.
The Start and Scale Course is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in starting or scaling a profitable e-commerce store.
Read on to discover its content, format, and some tips and recommendations you should consider before committing to the program.
What Is the Start and Scale System?
Start and Scale is an online course to teach you how to build an online store from zero to help you become a successful e-commerce business owner. This program helps you
- Discover ideas for products
- Set up a profitable online store
- Manufacture products (identifying local and international suppliers, packaging, etc)
- Influencer marketing
- How to scale your business
Overall the Start and Scale has valuable information to teach you to set up and run your first e-commerce store and design your e-commerce brand.
Bear in mind that there is not an all-in-one solution, so Start and Scale is only the beginning of your learning path.
Can the Course Help You Build an E-commerce Business?
Yes, it can. The course covers the fundamentals of how to Start and Scale your online store using the model and strategies the successful Gretta Van Riel has used for her e-commerce brands.
It is not a guarantee that you will become an instant success entrepreneur at the end of the Start and Scale program, but it helps you start your journey to e-commerce success on the right foot.
Gretta Van Riel – The Mind Behind the Program
Gretta Van Riel is an Australian entrepreneur who started her first e-commerce business at age 22, with only 24 dollars in her bank account.
Her e-commerce store was SkinnyME Tea, and in only six months, she managed to take her store from zero to a $ 600,000-per-month online business.
Armed with the knowledge and the credentials of her success Gretta has created other successful online stores worth millions of dollars, like The 5th Watches, Drop Bottle, and Hey Influencer.
Gretta’s role as a successful businesswoman put her in the scope of the Forbes rich list (30 under 30).
With her background, she has made a name for herself as a successful serial entrepreneur. That being said, Greta has the background knowledge and experience to build a business course.
On the other hand, there are no guarantees that her method will work for every online business. Ultimately your discipline, perseverance, and unique skills are fundamental to creating a profitable business.
The course costs $1,000, and you need to sign up for their waiting list to access the program.
Start and Scale Course Content
The Start and Scale Course video content is divided into progressive modules, and to add more value to your learning, it also has workbooks to help you review, confirm and build your knowledge as you go.
The Start and Scale workbooks are a fundamental part of the program because the tasks help you put into practice what you are learning.
Ignoring the workbook equals missing out on most of the product. The workbook is a fundamental companion to becoming one of Gretta’s successful students.
Unlike other e-commerce courses, the Start and Scale course does not give you instant access to all the content because it is a week-by-week course, and you access the content as the course progresses.
Finding Your Idea
A profitable product idea is fundamental for a successful business. The core of the first module is helping you discover the idea for your business. But do not worry because you have nine lessons to work into your ideal product idea.
To sum up, this module will work you through researching your niche and testing your ideas to confirm the viability and chances of success.
According to e-commerce expert Gretta, you will use the same framework she has used for all her successful businesses.
In this module, you will also focus on defining your ideal customer, a fundamental part of your brand and e-commerce business.
Branding and Setting up Your Store
In this module, you will find the lessons that will help you start to build your Shopify store. Like many other courses, the Start and Scale course teaches you to use a specific tool, but you are not bound to it.
Later (developing your business) you can use a different platform. Keep in mind that by using Start and Scale you will only learn to use Shopify.
This module also embarks on the fundamentals of company branding, like company naming, brand colors, logos, and more. Remember, further research will not hurt since these are only fundamentals, for in-depth knowledge you need other resources.
Developing and Planning Your Idea
This part of the Start and Scale course adds value because many e-commerce businesses overlook this fundamental part of the process.
The section focuses on how to design your minimum viable product (MVP). You will also learn about finding the manufacturers for your product and the basics of product packaging.
If you are thinking about developing a dropshipping business, this module lacks value for you, but if you are committed to developing your brand and product. This module can be a game-changer for you.
Making Your Product Profitable
Having a product is not enough! It is essential to have a profitable product.
Why? Because it will help you make the maximum profit from your products. To achieve it, you need market research, a trademark background, and the skills to negotiate and order the first batch of stock from your manufacturer.
Expect tons of business-oriented data in this section of the Start and Scale Course.
Building an Audience for Your E-commerce Business
Building an audience for your e-commerce business is fundamental because it allows you to connect with potential customers before they even buy.
It provides an opportunity to show off your expertise, build trust, and develop an emotional connection by delivering content that resonates with them.
Module 5 focuses on how to get people to sign-up for the pre-launch of your product using mailing lists, content marketing, social media presence, and special giveaways.
Having a loyal audience, you can easily convert them into customers, increase your visibility, and scale your business. Retaining these customers is as important, and using softphone solutions can help you address their problems through easy communication.
The Influencer Marketer Blueprint
Influencer marketing is essential for e-commerce because it helps them tap into the existing fan base of an influencer to reach their target market and maximize their reach.Â
By leveraging the audience of influencers, businesses can increase their visibility and create a positive image of their brand to potential customers.
Furthermore, it is an effective way to build trust with customers and establish an emotional connection with them. Ultimately, influencer marketing can be an invaluable tool to help e-commerce businesses increase their sales and grow their customer base. Influencer marketing is projected to reach $21.1 billion.
In this module of the Strat and Scale course, you will access intensive training in influencer marketing to build an audience of hungry customers to buy your products.
Launch and Operation
It is a series of seven videos discussing all the aspects of Gretta’s checklist for a successful customer support service for your store. This module also offers information on free shipping and other aspects to help you market your product successfully.
Scaling Your Online Store
The Start and Scale course is coming to its end, and in the last module, you acquire the information you need to increase the revenue of your online business. Learn how to deal with abandoned carts, upselling, email marketing, and new product launching.
The amount of information in the final module is overwhelming, and some topics are very complex and could use further development.
Use it as a source of basic information, and take notes of your doubts and any interesting topics you think can use further research.
Policy on Refunds
The Start and Scale course has a policy refund that lasts up to 60 days. Be aware that you must prove why the program did not work for you. A simple email asking for a refund will not be enough.
Community (Facebook Group)
An added advantage of the Start and Scale course is the active Facebook Group, it provides social proof, and inspiration from fellow entrepreneurs and even makes questions to solve all your doubts. Use this information on your criteria, like in any other Facebook group administrator can not monitor 100%of the interaction.
FAQs
What is Gretta Van Riel’s Net Worth?
The Start and Scale instructor and owner Gretta Van Riel has a net worth of around $5 million according to wealthtrunk.com.
Where are alternatives to Start and Scale?
Consider the following courses to acquire new skills related to e-commerce. The courses have been carefully created and offer valuable information to help you boost your e-commerce skills.
- eCom Elites
- Canva Design School
- Biaheza
- Wholesale Ted
- Google Digital Garage
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Start and Scale Course?
The Pros
- High-Quality Videos.
- Information-packed videos.
- Gretta uses her business as a real-life example for the lessons.
- Customer Support and a Facebook community to provide answers on the course and your store.
- A refund policy where you can claim your money back if you go through all the training and the system does not work on your store. The time frame of 60 days.
The Cons
- The course is expensive.
- The paid ads training is basic. To become a successful e-commerce owner you need to make use of paid advertisement.
- Lack of respect for your time. First, you have to wait to get into the course, and then wait every week to unlock the next module. It can be frustrating for some people.
In a Nutshell
The Start and Scale course is comprehensive and detailed. It helps entrepreneurs launch their business and scale it to success.
In the course, you will find step-by-step tutorials on how to start a business, create a business plan, build a website, market your products and services, and scale your business.
The bottom line, the course is expensive for beginner entrepreneurs, and the dripping format does not allow you total control of your time.
Consider if it fits your budget, plans, and objectives before committing to the program.
If you are looking to start and scale a business, this course is worth considering, but consider the entire landscape to ensure it is your best option.
Thanks for reading!
